I love working with entrepreneurs in the developing world. They are like sponges, absorbing all the knowledge and insight and advice they can possibly take in. Yet common mistakes prevail among fledgling businesses around the globe; let’s ensure you’re not making them. 1. Big, daring visions are good; starry-eyed delusions can get you into trouble Entrepreneurs are an optimistic bunch. That idealism serves them well and stokes their success. But they sometimes fail

It seemed like a great business model. Several years ago, I worked with a young solopreneur in Liberia – let’s call her Lucie – helping her with a business plan. She had figured out that she could make good money by purchasing agricultural produce that’s plentiful in one county (say, palm oil) and selling it in nearby counties where there was little supply but high demand, thus bringing higher prices. Even better, while she was in one county selling the palm oil, Lucie would

"If you think entrepreneurship is hard, try doing it in a developing country" Listen to my interview with host Eric Dye where we covered the following questions: You have an interesting background in both business and aid work. Tell us more about what you do. So why do you focus on entrepreneurs in developing and emerging economies? Why is entrepreneurship so difficult in low income countries? You’ve coined the term “aidtrepreneurship”. What is that? How can small business ow

Shortly after I returned home from a consulting assignment in Liberia, I was working in my office and happened to look out the window. A ground hog was waddling straight down the middle of the street. In my neighborhood in suburban New Jersey this is a WTF. And that was my first thought. But I’m quite certain that no one else on Madison Street would have come up with my second thought: “Someone in Liberia could get $20 for that”. That’s what my driver told me on one of my tri